Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Not utilizing all of Epcot to its fullest potential is boneheaded. You can't get more people into MK most days, but you can get more people in to Epcot. >> And you don't see why it might be desirable to have a park that is not always stuffed to capacity? If it weren't for the relaxation and sanity that the World Showcase provides, I don't think I could handle WDW.
Originally Posted By mousermerf Theme parks are not meant to be quiet deserted locations. People complained when The Land became bustling with activity with Soarin. It's the same people who are worried that DCA will be busy after the rennovations. A theme park is not a place to hang out, chill out, and socialize your buddies every so often. It's not an AP-lounge. You don't meet for crafts at the Bengal BBQ and you shouldn't go there looking for quiet reflection and to read a good book. That's insulting to the people who designed and operate the park. A blatant misuse of the location.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> Epcot would perform much higher in gate revenue and in food sales << Exactly how would they achieve that when restaurants are already full most evenings? I'm not sure who all these people not setting foot into World Showcase are. People go to WS to eat (that is a very popular area for food, obviously), and they go for Illuminations. I think WS could do with a few more table service restaurants. I'm not against attractions in WS, I just am not sure I want to see thrill rides there. For me, dining in a variety of restaurants and checking out shops with unique merchandise (not the same junk that is in MouseGear and nearly every other store on property) is interesting.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome >> A theme park is not a place to hang out, chill out, and socialize your buddies every so often. It's not an AP-lounge. You don't meet for crafts at the Bengal BBQ and you shouldn't go there looking for quiet reflection and to read a good book. << Really? I go to the theme parks to hang out, chill out, socialize with my friends, exercise, and enjoy finding quiet reflection and sometimes thrills. Disney builds THEME parks, not thrill parks. I think that misuse of a park would be more building a crap attraction (i.e. - Primeval Whirl) where it hurts the theming of the area around it. I hope I can say crap here, I tried to think of another word that would fit. Epcot is a great walking park, it's a great sitting park, it's a great restaurant park. It has some top attractions, it has my favorite nighttime show, several of my favorite yearly events, and terrific landscaping. I can go and do a thrill ride, I can sit and read a book. I can take laps around WS. Have a drink at the Rose and Crown or another area, sit in the garden in the back of England. It is, for me, a perfect park as it stands. Not all attractions are great - I think Gran Fiesta was a downgrade, and Imagination of course as well from the original.
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror >>>I think we need a South American country represented in EPCOT before we get to Russia (Brazil, Peru, Argentina, anyone?). Also, how about Egypt -- I imagine their are dozens of attractions (even thrilling ones!) that could be based off the concept of exploring the ancient Egyptian civilizations? If we must add another European country, I'd prefer Greece over Russia -- lots of good source material there, too.<<< Yeah, Egypt's a no-brainer. The architecture is a great standout and would be a wonderful "weinie" wherever they put it... Plus they tend to be seen as politically neutral in this whole arab/israeli mess. You could have so much fun. Sadly, there probably won't be any kind of mummy-aspect in a ride, as Universal's gone and built their little Mummy thrill ride. But there's plenty of other stuff to mine with that history. Love Greece... and South American countries are also no-brainers. They're romantic, beautiful, offer their own "brand" of architecture and food and flora. It's really a shame we don't have something south of Mexico represented. Wouldn't a Peter Pan style, suspended dark ride through the Andes - supersized and on steroids - be a wonderfully exhilarating experience? (inevitably cue Kuzco's theme song...) So much they could do.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo It's funny mousermerf, I could care less if I ever set foot in the MK again in my life. But I will travel 3000 miles to go to Epcot and DAK, with WS being my favorite part of WDW and probably one of the best things Disney has ever done. If I want thrills, I will go to 6 Flags, Busch, IOA, or European parks. But the American Adventure, Spaceship Earth, Illuminations and dining/shows in WS are a must. On our last trip to WDW we were there for nearly two weeks and went into Epcot on 8 days - stepping foot in WS 7 of those!
Originally Posted By CMDad Though not local. my wife and I spend a good 25-30 days a year at WDW. Our main purpose is not to frenetically get on every attraction and thrill ride that we can, but just to enjoy the atmosphere and ambiance. The best place to do this? WS at Epcot! Who says a theme park is not a place to hang out and meet your friends? Perhaps the younger set would feel the need to be constantly entertained and thrilled - as opposed to quietly enjoy a place or situation. But at our age, and with as many trips to WDW as we have under our belts, it is more about being there and enjoying being there than constant "in your face" stimulation. World Showcase fills that need better than any other place in WDW. And now some want to see that uniqueness taken away?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo To me, an awesome day at WDW has been a few attractions in Future World, a counter service lunch in WS. An afternoon exploring WS enjoying the live entertainment, snacks and drinks, chatting to the cast members from around the globe, a lovely table service meal and then Illumintions. Perfect - and well worth the price of admission (anyone who says it's a mall never stops to see the ents or talk to the cast, clearly!!!). Whereas if I want to ride Disney classics, Florida would be the last place to go (except HK) as DL, DLP and TDL are vastly superior to the MK in oh so many ways.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 "World Showcase fills that need better than any other place in WDW. And now some want to see that uniqueness taken away?" I really don't see how adding a few more rides to the World Showcase would destroy its "uniqueness". Yes, it would draw some more people in, but EPCOT is HUGE, and World Showcase could easily handle more people. Plus, the addition of another country or two would add even more shops, restaurants and rides to soak up those crowds. Look, I enjoy the tranquilness of World Showcase as much as anyone, but I don't think having an enclosed, mountain-type roller coaster would destroy that feeling. You would just have to share it with a few more people -- and I don't think that would be a bad thing at all.
Originally Posted By nbodyhome Dave - I agree with your post about MK/Epcot! I went into the Magic Kingdom more this year than other years because of the castle lighting. But otherwise, I don't get drawn to it much. When I was there on 12/30 waiting for fireworks, I got SO bored, I really should have headed over to Epcot. I could live there. >> World Showcase fills that need better than any other place in WDW. And now some want to see that uniqueness taken away? << I am uneasy about thrill rides in WS. The walkways can already fill up pretty tight during some events. I wouldn't mind more pavilions - shops, restaurants, more areas for guests to go. I'm not against rides, I thought El Rio De Tiempo was a great attraction to introduce guests to Mexico. I personally would rather not see a ride just for a rides sake - i.e. - Gran Fiesta doesn't tell me much about the country. Opening at WS is so nice and peaceful (as guests work their way through Future World first), I'd hate to be walking and watch people running to Japan for their roller coaster fastpasses. I don't want to see several times the foot traffic in WS as there is now, especially the kind that makes guests sprint.
Originally Posted By Mr X **Right now, many see it as Future World and some dining options. And the problem with that would be...???** Too far to walk for dinner?
Originally Posted By Mr X How about... Put coasters (well themed, of course) into ALL the World Showcase pavillions! Yeah, kind of a Cedar Point motif. You know, something for everyone. Of course, the "Americoaster" pavillion will have the grandest hyper-coaster (FINALLY, a "world's largest/highest/most thrilling for Disney!). And then, you know, Germany can get the classic woody (gotta have a couple of those), maybe with a beirmeister guy up at the top for additional theming, sort of swinging the beer can at the "do not stand up" sign. Oh, and how bout this. We could pit the countries against each other in a whimsical fashion. Like at Magic Mountain, you know? Where they have the sit-down bat-coaster vs. the stand up "Joker". Just link mortal enemies Mexico and Norway together, maybe tie it all together and have the coasters wrap around half-way. Perfect! And Canada. Oh Canada. They'll get the lame three-loop option (for wussies). Cause Canada's not even a real country anyway. So the theme fits there too!
Originally Posted By Mr X On second though...the countries.. Yeah, the countries. They really seem to be getting in the way of the new concept, huh? Who needs countries. Future World isn't about the future anymore..why does World Showcase need to be about the world? SO, tear down those walls (er, pavillions), and make some MORE room down there for... drumroll.... THRILL Showcase! (and of course rename the front part "Thrill World", already done in deed if not name)
Originally Posted By mousermerf Yikes, my point totally misconstrued.. I don't want a thrill ride in WS. I don't even like thrill rides and find the drop on Pirates unsettling, so please don't be thinking i'm some roller coaster junkie. But a theme park is not meant to be "quaint" and quiet. I understand going to the park frequently, because i do myself, but i dont see it as my personal playground. It is built for tourists to enjoy, not for me to enjoy as a place to read a good book. That's not its purpose. So, we shouldn't label WS as a good place to read a good book. There should be a draw there - yes it has food but there should be more. People should want to be in WS from the time it opens, not viewing it entirely as secondary to the rest of the experience. Many people do, you cant deny that. Take away the restaurants? People go back to eating at Sizzler on 192. WS needs attractions.
Originally Posted By Mr X **WS needs attractions.** EXACTLY. Big, exciting, metal attractions. In fact, I think I'll send an email off to my old imagineering friends RIGHT NOW. <==heads to hotmail
Originally Posted By jmuboy To be honest, the next BIG WS attraction I'd want to see is "Bells of Change" - the multimedia extravganza/show in Russia. As for thrills, I don't see WS as the place for them. BUT...BUT...BUT I will say that if a roller coaster or thrill ride as highly themed and well done as Everest is added to WS then I would be fine with it.
Originally Posted By mousermerf I want that cool lookin Sleigh Ride attraction - was that for russia too? I dunno, but the sleigh ride looked awesome.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris "On a side note, when my son was 2 we went to WDW, and his highlight of that trip was World Showcase, because he got to go to each pavilion and get a stamp, do an art project and get his passport marked. He loved doing that and guess what, it was educational. Small things like that make the difference, not huge attractions." Fine but not everyone is an eight year old child with a $10 autograph book and ADD. Some of us actually want A-T-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N-S in our themed lands. It isn't really TOO MUCH to ask from the WDC.......right?
Originally Posted By Cindermomster Of course World Showcase needs attractions. Some may even be thrill rides. But all rides should be well thought out to complement the themes of the countries. Most rides should probably be those the whole family (or most of the family) can enjoy together. Pirates style rides fit this idea of family rides. There are already two rides like this. But tame coasters aka Matterhorn or Big Thunder could work well too. Just differently themed for a country's landscape or traditions. Carefully chosen and planned attractions will boost WS attendence. Most Disney lovers (like me) might not see this at first. (Because we love Epcot.) But the right kind of attractions would add to the experience even for us. It would give a more emersive experience and give more of a chance to "be" in that country for a little while.
